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EP1970112B1 - Self-cleaning filter for pressure vessels, particularly for liquefied gas containers - Google Patents

Self-cleaning filter for pressure vessels, particularly for liquefied gas containers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1970112B1
EP1970112B1 EP07121255.9A EP07121255A EP1970112B1 EP 1970112 B1 EP1970112 B1 EP 1970112B1 EP 07121255 A EP07121255 A EP 07121255A EP 1970112 B1 EP1970112 B1 EP 1970112B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filter
chamber
container
liquefied gas
filter surface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP07121255.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1970112A1 (en
Inventor
Ezio Cavagna
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cavagna Group SpA
Original Assignee
Cavagna Group SpA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cavagna Group SpA filed Critical Cavagna Group SpA
Publication of EP1970112A1 publication Critical patent/EP1970112A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1970112B1 publication Critical patent/EP1970112B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/11—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with bag, cage, hose, tube, sleeve or like filtering elements
    • B01D29/114—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with bag, cage, hose, tube, sleeve or like filtering elements arranged for inward flow filtration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/50—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition
    • B01D29/56—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection
    • B01D29/58—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection arranged concentrically or coaxially
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/62—Regenerating the filter material in the filter
    • B01D29/66—Regenerating the filter material in the filter by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps
    • B01D29/668—Regenerating the filter material in the filter by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps with valves, e.g. rotating valves for coaxially placed filtering elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/02—Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/06—Filters making use of electricity or magnetism
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/14—Safety devices specially adapted for filtration; Devices for indicating clogging
    • B01D35/147—Bypass or safety valves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a self-cleaning filter for pressure vessels, particularly for liquefied gas containers.
  • US 3 817 380 A discloses a strainer for removing foreign particles from a pressurized fluid, said strainer comprising: a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port therein; a cylindrical filter element movable between a first and a second position within said casing, said filter element moving from the first position to the second position in response to the pressure of the fluid adjacent the inlet port when said filter element is clogged with foreign particles, a spring for biasing said filter element toward the first position and magnetic means for collecting ferromagnetic particles carried by the pressurized fluid are disposed within said filter element.
  • a major drawback of the filtering systems normally in use is the progressive loss of filtering capacity or decrease in flow rate at the exit from the filter, due essentially to the progressive clogging of the filter surfaces by the waste and impurities deposited thereon during use.
  • the remedy proposed up to the present time is appropriate maintenance of the filters with periodic replacement of the filter surface.
  • the problem at the basis of the present invention is that of providing a self-cleaning filter which is structurally and functionally designed to overcome the aforementioned drawback in a substantially automatic way.
  • one object of the invention is to provide a filter in which any maintenance operations are purely occasional and potentially unnecessary.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a filter which can maintain a substantially unchanged filtering efficiency and useful flow rate over a period of time.
  • the number 1 schematically indicates a portion of a pressure vessel for liquefied gas, in which a filter 2 according to the invention is fitted.
  • the container and filter are shown on different scales for convenience of depiction.
  • a pipe 3 for the passage of the liquefied gas extends into the container 1, from a delivery and filling valve, which is not shown since it is of a known type, to the filter 2.
  • the pipe 3 acts as a supply pipe during the filling of the container 1 and as a delivery pipe during the delivery of the liquefied gas to the appliances supplied by it through the delivery valve.
  • the filter 2 comprises a body 2a in which is formed a filter chamber 4 whose inner wall is essentially cylindrical with a circular section.
  • the chamber 4 communicates with the pipe 3 and with the inside of the container 1 through a corresponding first and second port, identified as 5 and 6 respectively.
  • a tubular cylindrical filter element 7 having one axial end closed by a base 7a and an axially opposed end which is open, the edge of the latter forming a plug 9 which, in combination with a valve seat 10 formed in the first port 5, creates a normally closed by-pass valve means, whose operation is explained below.
  • the shell of the filter element 7 forms a first filter surface 11 which serves to retain the smallest impurities during the delivery of gas from the container 1.
  • a second filter surface 12, which is less fine - in the sense that it can retain only particles of larger diameter than those retained by the surface 11 - is formed by a pre-filter 13 mounted in the second port 6.
  • a spring 14 acts between the pre-filter 13 and the filter element 7 to press the plug 9 against the seat 10 in order to shut the latter off.
  • One or more sets of permanent magnets 15, alternating with spacers 16 if necessary, are positioned behind the chamber 4 and outside it, to act as retaining means for temporarily retaining against the walls of the chamber 4 impurities having ferromagnetic properties, such as small particles of oxide ferrous in suspension in the liquefied gas while the gas is passing into the chamber during delivery.
  • three sets of magnets and spacers are positioned along the circumference of the body 2a at intervals of 120°.
  • the permanent magnet may be positioned in the centre of the chamber 4 and the filter element may be positioned around it.
  • the retaining means can be made to comprise a shape of the chamber 4 such that the residues are deposited on the walls by centrifugal force. This effect is provided, for example, by making the chamber in the shape of a cyclone scroll.
  • the operation of the filter 2 is as follows.
  • the liquefied gas undergoes a coarse filtration, intended to retain the coarser impurities, in the pre-filter 13, the plug 9 is pressed by the spring 14 against the seat 10, and the delivered gas is passed into the chamber 4 between the walls of this chamber and the filter element 7.
  • any ferromagnetic waste is attracted by the magnets 15 and retained against the walls.
  • minute suspended particles are retained by the first filter surface 11. All the delivered gas is forced to pass through the filter surface 11, since the by-pass valve means are closed.
  • the filter 2 is automatically flushed in counter flow on each filling cycle of the container 1, thus preventing the clogging or even the partial clogging of the filter surfaces and maintaining the optimal flow rate for which the filter is designed.
  • the body of the filter can be made either from ferromagnetic or from non-magnetic material
  • the filter element and/or the pre-filter can be made either from plastics material or from other materials, including, in particular, the use of sintered or porous materials for the filter element to be used for filtering.
  • a plurality of filter stages may be provided, both for the pre-filter and for the first filter surface.
  • the invention thus achieves the proposed objects while also offering numerous advantages, including:

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention relates to a self-cleaning filter for pressure vessels, particularly for liquefied gas containers.
  • In the technical field of pressure vessels, such as liquefied gas containers in particular, it has been found necessary to protect the gas-using devices from possible malfunctions caused by impurities and contamination of various kinds present in the container. Such containers, generally in the form of cylinders, frequently contain ferrous oxides, dust and other particles which may become suspended in the delivered fluid and, if not suitably treated by appropriate filtering, may damage the using devices.
  • US 3 817 380 A discloses a strainer for removing foreign particles from a pressurized fluid, said strainer comprising: a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port therein; a cylindrical filter element movable between a first and a second position within said casing, said filter element moving from the first position to the second position in response to the pressure of the fluid adjacent the inlet port when said filter element is clogged with foreign particles, a spring for biasing said filter element toward the first position and magnetic means for collecting ferromagnetic particles carried by the pressurized fluid are disposed within said filter element.
  • A major drawback of the filtering systems normally in use is the progressive loss of filtering capacity or decrease in flow rate at the exit from the filter, due essentially to the progressive clogging of the filter surfaces by the waste and impurities deposited thereon during use. The remedy proposed up to the present time is appropriate maintenance of the filters with periodic replacement of the filter surface.
  • However, this is a rather inconvenient and burdensome process, and must be carried out solely by specialist personnel.
  • The problem at the basis of the present invention is that of providing a self-cleaning filter which is structurally and functionally designed to overcome the aforementioned drawback in a substantially automatic way.
  • In the context of this problem, one object of the invention is to provide a filter in which any maintenance operations are purely occasional and potentially unnecessary.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a filter which can maintain a substantially unchanged filtering efficiency and useful flow rate over a period of time.
  • This problem is resolved and these objects are achieved with a filter made in accordance with the following claims.
  • The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive example of embodiment thereof, illustrated, for the purposes of guidance and without restrictive intent, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
    • Fig. A is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a pressure vessel in which a filter according to the invention is fitted, shown during the delivery of the liquefied gas contained in it;
    • Fig. B is a view corresponding to that of Figure A, shown during the filling of the container.
  • In the figures, the number 1 schematically indicates a portion of a pressure vessel for liquefied gas, in which a filter 2 according to the invention is fitted. The container and filter are shown on different scales for convenience of depiction.
  • A pipe 3 for the passage of the liquefied gas extends into the container 1, from a delivery and filling valve, which is not shown since it is of a known type, to the filter 2. The pipe 3 acts as a supply pipe during the filling of the container 1 and as a delivery pipe during the delivery of the liquefied gas to the appliances supplied by it through the delivery valve.
  • The filter 2 comprises a body 2a in which is formed a filter chamber 4 whose inner wall is essentially cylindrical with a circular section. The chamber 4 communicates with the pipe 3 and with the inside of the container 1 through a corresponding first and second port, identified as 5 and 6 respectively.
  • In the chamber 4 there is mounted a tubular cylindrical filter element 7, having one axial end closed by a base 7a and an axially opposed end which is open, the edge of the latter forming a plug 9 which, in combination with a valve seat 10 formed in the first port 5, creates a normally closed by-pass valve means, whose operation is explained below.
  • The shell of the filter element 7 forms a first filter surface 11 which serves to retain the smallest impurities during the delivery of gas from the container 1. A second filter surface 12, which is less fine - in the sense that it can retain only particles of larger diameter than those retained by the surface 11 - is formed by a pre-filter 13 mounted in the second port 6.
  • A spring 14 acts between the pre-filter 13 and the filter element 7 to press the plug 9 against the seat 10 in order to shut the latter off.
  • One or more sets of permanent magnets 15, alternating with spacers 16 if necessary, are positioned behind the chamber 4 and outside it, to act as retaining means for temporarily retaining against the walls of the chamber 4 impurities having ferromagnetic properties, such as small particles of oxide ferrous in suspension in the liquefied gas while the gas is passing into the chamber during delivery.
  • In a preferred arrangement, three sets of magnets and spacers are positioned along the circumference of the body 2a at intervals of 120°. Alternatively, the permanent magnet may be positioned in the centre of the chamber 4 and the filter element may be positioned around it.
  • As a further alternative, the retaining means can be made to comprise a shape of the chamber 4 such that the residues are deposited on the walls by centrifugal force. This effect is provided, for example, by making the chamber in the shape of a cyclone scroll.
  • The operation of the filter 2 is as follows.
  • With reference to Figure 1, when the container is in the state of delivering the liquefied gas contained in it, the filter 2 is in the position shown in Figure 1.
  • In this condition, the liquefied gas undergoes a coarse filtration, intended to retain the coarser impurities, in the pre-filter 13, the plug 9 is pressed by the spring 14 against the seat 10, and the delivered gas is passed into the chamber 4 between the walls of this chamber and the filter element 7.
  • In passing close to the walls of the chamber 4, any ferromagnetic waste is attracted by the magnets 15 and retained against the walls. On the other hand, minute suspended particles are retained by the first filter surface 11. All the delivered gas is forced to pass through the filter surface 11, since the by-pass valve means are closed.
  • When the container 1 is refilled, liquid gas under high pressure is passed in through the pipe 3, and the filter changes to the position shown in Figure 2. In this condition, the pressure of the liquefied gas overcomes the pressure exerted on the filter element 7 by the spring 14 and by the gas present in the container, thus causing the element 7 to move in opposition to the spring 14 and consequently opening the by-pass valve means. The liquefied gas therefore enters the chamber 4 at a high velocity, creating a flushing action on the filter surface 11 and on the walls of the chamber 4, and removing any coarser waste retained by the pre-filter 13. All the removed impurities are deposited on the base of the container.
  • Because of this design, the filter 2 is automatically flushed in counter flow on each filling cycle of the container 1, thus preventing the clogging or even the partial clogging of the filter surfaces and maintaining the optimal flow rate for which the filter is designed. The invention as described in the above description may be modified and varied without departing from the same inventive principle. For example, the body of the filter can be made either from ferromagnetic or from non-magnetic material, the filter element and/or the pre-filter can be made either from plastics material or from other materials, including, in particular, the use of sintered or porous materials for the filter element to be used for filtering. It is also envisaged that a plurality of filter stages may be provided, both for the pre-filter and for the first filter surface.
  • The invention thus achieves the proposed objects while also offering numerous advantages, including:
    • reduction of the maintenance operations on the filter
    • reduction of the down time caused by stopping the user devices for the purposes of maintenance
    • versatility of use of the device, because of its reduced overall dimensions.

Claims (10)

  1. Self-cleaning filter for pressure vessels, particularly for liquefied gas containers (1), characterized in that it comprises:
    - a filter chamber (4) communicating with a pipe (3) for the passage of liquefied gas and with the inside of the container (1) through first (5) and second (6) ports,
    - a tubular cylindrical filter element (7) mounted in said chamber (4) and having one axial end closed by a base (7a) and an axially opposed open end, wherein the shell of said filter element (7) forms a first filter surface (11) for retaining the smallest impurities during the delivery of gas from the container (1), said first filter surface (11) being positioned in said chamber and being such that the gas delivered from the container (1) through the said chamber and directed towards said pipe passes through said filter surface (11) after flowing over the walls of the said chamber, wherein the edge of said open end forms a plug (9),
    - a valve seat (10) formed in the first port (5), wherein said plug (9) in combination with said valve seat (10) creates by-pass valve means for by-passing the first filter surface, for bringing liquefied gas from the pipe into the container during the filling of the latter, without passing the gas through the first filter surface,
    - a spring (14) acting between a pre-filter (13) mounted in the second port (6) and the filter element (7) to press the plug (9) against the seat (10) in order to shut the latter off; whereby, when said by-pass valve means are shut off, the gas delivered into the container to the chamber is forced to pass through the filter surface (11), while, when during the filling of the container (11) said by-pass valve means are open in said chamber, they allow for by-passing the first filter surface (11) and bringing liquefied gas from the pipe (3) into the filter chamber (4), in such a way that the liquefied gas brought in to fill the container through said by-pass valve means causes flushing of the walls of said chamber (4) and of said first filter surface, and
    - retaining means (15) in said chamber for temporarily retaining suspended impurities in the liquefied gas against the walls of said chamber during delivery, and for releasing them when flushing takes place during the filling of the container.
  2. Filter according to Claim 1, in which the retaining means comprise at least one permanent magnet (15) associated with the walls of the said chamber for retaining the said impurities by magnetic attraction.
  3. Filter according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a second filter surface (12) is formed by the pre-filter (13) and is provided between the said chamber and the container, so that during delivery the liquefied gas is filtered by the second filter surface (12) before entering said chamber.
  4. Filter according to Claim 3, in which the second filter surface is less fine than the first filter surface (11).
  5. Filter according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the walls of the said chamber are made from ferromagnetic material.
  6. Filter according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the retaining means comprise a shape of the chamber (4) such that the residues are deposited on the walls by centrifugal action, the chamber (4) being in the shape of a cyclone scroll.
  7. Filter according to Claim 6 in which the filter element (7) is movable to open/close the by-pass valve means, wherein said filter element (7) is pushed resiliently with the said plug (9) to close and open the valve seat (10) at the outlet of the said pipe (3) in the said chamber (4).
  8. Filter according to Claim 1, in which the retaining means comprise at least one permanent magnet (15) that is positioned centrally in said chamber and is surrounded by said first filter surface.
  9. Filter according to one or more of Claims 7 to 8 in which the resilient pressure on the said plug (9) is generated by the difference between the pressures upstream and downstream of the said valve means.
  10. Pressure container (1) for liquefied gases, including a valve for delivery and for filling the container, from which a pipe (3) for the passage of the liquefied gas extends towards the inside of the container, characterized in that it comprises a filter (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, mounted in the said container at the end of the said pipe opposite the said valve.
EP07121255.9A 2006-12-22 2007-11-22 Self-cleaning filter for pressure vessels, particularly for liquefied gas containers Active EP1970112B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000469A ITPD20060469A1 (en) 2006-12-22 2006-12-22 SELF-CLEANING FILTER FOR PRESSURE CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR FOR LIQUEFIED GAS TANKS

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1970112A1 EP1970112A1 (en) 2008-09-17
EP1970112B1 true EP1970112B1 (en) 2019-03-06

Family

ID=38235391

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07121255.9A Active EP1970112B1 (en) 2006-12-22 2007-11-22 Self-cleaning filter for pressure vessels, particularly for liquefied gas containers

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1970112B1 (en)
CL (1) CL2007003694A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2727925T3 (en)
IT (1) ITPD20060469A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3468420A (en) * 1966-08-17 1969-09-23 Parker Hannifin Corp Fluid filter
US3817380A (en) * 1973-01-16 1974-06-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Safety oil strainer
US6423215B1 (en) * 2001-03-08 2002-07-23 Myron Stein Fluid filter unit with automatic clogged filter element bypass and ferrous indicator flag
US20060102534A1 (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-18 Faria Manuel S Bypass filter assembly

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITPD20060469A1 (en) 2008-06-23
CL2007003694A1 (en) 2008-09-05
EP1970112A1 (en) 2008-09-17
ES2727925T3 (en) 2019-10-21

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